In April 1956, a properly organised Greek Community with an elected Committee of Management was formed. Some 35 to 45 families were involved together with many single people, a total number of 250 to 300 individuals. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Greek Community of Geelong and districts increased substantially numbering from 80 to 120 families. In March 1960 the community became a formal legal entity registered under that 1958 Companies Act in the State of Victoria.

Land was purchased in 1960. The first Greek orthodox church was constructed in 1964/5. While the first formal Greek School commenced operation in the mid-1960s.

As time went by, the Greek Community of Geelong increased in numbers even more, and now began to get systematically organised. In addition to the Committee of Management, a Church Committee was formed as well as the Philoptohos (Women’s Auxiliary Fundraising Committee).
In the 1970s the Youth Social League was founded and in 1983 the first Greek sports club of Geelong.
In 2006, together with a School Committee we had a Youth and Cultural Clubs, a Community and Church Support Group and a Dance Group. The Elderly Club was meeting regularly every fortnight.

Today the total number of residents of Greek background in the Greater Geelong region is approximately 3,500.
Apart from many business proprietors and tradesmen, our community has a considerable number of specialists and professionals, both in the public and private sectors, especially from the second generation Greeks, who of course grew up in Australia. In their majority, Greeks of our community, have very good command of the Greek language.

First generation Greeks in Geelong came from all parts of Greece, and from other countries; Egypt, Lebanon, Asia Minor, Argentina, USA, Zimbabwe, and Cyprus. There is one specific area that played a primary role in the establishment, growth and development of the community: The island of Lefkas and Aetolokarnania, the region lying immediately across from the particular area of Greece , while at the same time, the Greek migrants from there today make up the highest number of Greeks in our community. The bulk of our members came to Geelong during the high migration years of the late 1940s to late 1960s. The most recently arrived have been a small number of inter-related families from Zimbabwe, who settled here some 15 to 20 years ago following the land dispossession and persecution of whites in that country.

Altogether the Greek Community of Geelong constitutes an integral, substantial and dynamic part of the cultural, economic and social facets of life in this multicultural city of Geelong.

Excerpt from the book
THE GREEK COMMUNITY OF GEELONG
1956-2006
Jordan Mavros